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How does this happen?

Could it happen to you?

Today I was confronted with equal shares of guilt, embarrassment and anger. Whilst, engaged in my daily work I met a sister who is, to put it mildly, down on her luck.
Although, this fact should not make the slightest bit of difference, when I spoke to her I was somewhat taken aback by her softly spoken, and definitely refined and educated responses. It made me sad that I had to tell her that she would have to disembark from the vehicle (bus) as the driver could not carry her with all those bags she was carrying. I was in fact feeling sick to my stomach by the necessity of my matter of fact attitude. How on earth has this sister found herself in this situation? Where is her family?
While I fully understand her reticence in responding to my questions, which were only aimed at attempting to get her to her final destination,  I was nonetheless also curious as to the circumstances which culminated in her homelessness.
I suppose I have to concede that I am powerless to assist in any meaningful way and also acknowledge that, there but for the grace of the creator go I.

Home not so Sweet Home! 

End of an era?

On Friday 12th April 2019 InI gathered, in one accord, to lay the body of Wolete Medhin to rest.
As is customary within the Rastafari communities this was not a day of sadness and outpouring of grief, but a joyous celebration of a life well lived.
For those who did not know or encounter Wolete Medhin whilst she was among us in the physical, I felt it was necessary to put pen to paper, proverbially, in tribute to an elder sister who was most definitely larger than life.
Wolete Medhin represented Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen with such a strong sense of commitment and Livication, it was often difficult to imagine anyone being more keenly aware of their power and glory. There are in fact a few names that I could mention who possessed the same kind of zeal, however, at this present time Sista Medhin is front and centre.
I first met Wolete Mehdin when still in my teens. I was one of those young people who used to come from Acton down to Shepherds Bush to visit The Simba Youth Club. My first impression of this elder sista was that she was extremely scary. She had a very forthright way about her and did not seem to suffer those she deemed as foolish, gladly. Suffice to say it was easy to see her as uncaring.
However, time is a great teacher and I came to have a great deal of respect for this elder. I came to see her as a mother among the group of us younger rasses rising in the late seventies. As with all mother figures she sometimes seemed unwilling to comprehend that she could possibly be wrong in her assessment of a given situation and we in turn learned to allow her the latitude to state her case, then choose just how much to take on board.
As we got older she formed a very close bond with several of the sistren that were coming up in her wake. They looked to her for guidance and support, which as far as I can see she gave them in abundance.
Sista Medhin was instrumental in the formation of several of the early organisations which were active in the first half of the nineteen seventies. Some of these were R.A.S; U.B.I.O; E.W.F; E.O.C.*
She was not only committed to the spiritual upliftment of her people, but also possessed a strong socio-political and analytical mindset. To this end she was always willing and able to protest our rights at the highest level.
It would be safe to say that without her input the movement in Britain would have been significantly poorer, in every sense of the word.
We give Iternal praises for the presence of this elder sista. She gave her life for the liberation of Afrika and Afrika's children. May we never forget the sacrifices she made and may her contribution continue to be heralded way into the future.
Wolete Mehdin never desired anyone to like her. She spoke her truths without ambiguity and allowed you to take it as you pleased.
As she now ascends into the ancestral realm I pray that she will continue to watch over and guide us all.
May she rise on the wings of Ma'at after a favourable judgement in the council of Ausar
Sattamasagan Hulagize
Glory to Word, Glory to Sound, Glory to the Power of the Trinity
Emperor Haile Selassie the First and Empress Menen     

* R.A.S. (Rastafari Advisory Service)
   U.B.I.O. (Universal Black Improvement Organisation)
    E.W.F. (Ethiopian World Federation)
    E.O.C. (Ethiopian Orthodox Church)

Time for change

As this recession rumbles on and continues to drag us into a state of financial uncertainty, I meet daily people who are now starting to despair. At the beginning of the so called credit crunch many Afrikans domiciled in the west remarked that we have been constantly crunched so it is just business  as usual. However, from 2007 until now the pressure has been building up and has now reached explosive proportions.
I am personally concerned that the damage done to us (Afrikans) during this time of ousterity will be irrepairable, at least, for the forseeable future. We are, as has been often stated, occupying the bottom rungs of the socio-political ladder and therefore highly susceptible to the economic downturns and very much less able to weather the storm

#wherewasrichiespice

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Reparations March 1st August 2014

Emancipation Day 2014

On the morning of Friday 1st August 2014, the Afrikan family gathered in Brixton South London.

On this day we re-affirmed our commitment of each other and to our ancestors. 

On this day we showed that despite differences in perspective, we are able to work together on things that we have in common.

"Leaders are people who raise the standard by which they judge themselves, and by which they are willing to be judged. A love of high quality, we must remember is essential in a leader."

His Imperial Majesty 

Emperor Haile Selassie First

Those who have taken the initiative, must remember that our liberty can not be defined by an event, however powerful that event may be. We are in a process and the building of institutions is a crucial aspect of this process. 

We made an important step this day and it is also significant that we are  marking the one hundred anniversary of the establishment of the UNIA (ACL). Which was brought into being on the 20th July 1914 by the Right Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

Let us remember that a step is the beginning of a journey and not the culmination. 

We have come a long way, however we still have a long way to go!

I can say, that, I am proud to have taken part in the march, but euphoria aside, we have been at this point several times before. Let us now advance to victory and do not falter.  

A New Day?